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executive
director’s
remarks

Take Care of Yourself First

Employee wellness has We are also extending the people first. However, the Chris D. Daniels
become a hot topic in conversation during the AJA axiom that you need to take
corrections, especially in light Conference & Jail Expo, May care of yourself in order to
of its impact on retention. 21 to 25, in sunny Long Beach, take care of others is true. You
If anything positive has California. Everyone who are your own best advocate
emerged from the pandemic, participated in our inaugural for your mental and physical
it’s a heightened awareness fall summit learned a lot of wellbeing. Please give yourself
of how fragile our health can actionable strategies to employ the space you need to act upon
be—and we should not take at their agencies to improve it, and get the training and
it for granted. Nor should health and wellness, and the support you need to assure
we take for granted the Long Beach conference will your success.
wellness of the colleagues continue to provide a forum Do it for yourself, do it for
on whom we rely every day. for discussing what worked your loved ones, and do it for
The toll that the pandemic successfully as well as taking your professional colleagues.
has taken on the health and it to the next level. If you
wellbeing of corrections have not already done so,
staff is immeasurable and, I encourage you to register CHRIS D. DANIELS, MPA, CAE
unfortunately, it is reflected in now to receive the lowest Executive Director
the number of professionals registration rate and your first American Jail Association
who are no longer working in choice for a hotel.
our jails. Long Beach, California
AJA is working to heighten is an amazing location for
the importance of wellness corrections staff to relax,
and its impact on retention. In rejuvenate, and re-engage
October, we held our first large with others in the facility. . . . the axiom that
in-person meeting in two and In this beautiful setting, the
a half years. Appropriately so, AJA Conference & Jail Expo you need to take
the meeting was titled the AJA is offering more than 51
Health & Wellness Summit for workshops. And the vendors
Jail Professionals. You can read are already lining up in care of yourself in
more about it on page 53 of anticipation of meeting with
this issue of the magazine. you to discuss your facility’s order to take care of
needs. Our mini conference
preview begins on page 35.
In the meantime, take care others is true.
of yourself. Jail professionals
are constantly placed in a
position where they must
consider the needs of other

AMERICANJails JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2022 | 7